Eileen Gu had a bittersweet day on the final day of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 22-year-old Olympian won the gold in the Freeski Halpipe for the second Winter Olympics in a row, defending her title from 2022.
However, in a post event press conference, she revealed that she was late to speak with press because she just learned her grandma passed away.
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“The reason I was late is that I just found out that my grandma passed away,” she said while becoming more emotional. “She was a really big part of my life growing up and someone I looked up to immensely. She was a fighter.”
Eileen continued, “I think what’s so interesting is that a lot of people just cruise through life, but she was a steamship. This woman commanded life and she grabbed it by the reins and she made it into what she wanted it to be. She inspired me so much.”
“She was very sick, so I knew that this was a possibility,” the athlete shared. “I didn’t promise her that I was going to win but I did promise her that I was going to be brave like she has been brave. That’s why I keep referring to this theme of betting on myself and being brave and taking risks. It actually goes back to that promise that I made my grandma.”
She concluded, “So, I’m really happy that I was able to uphold that and hopefully do her proud. But it’s also a really difficult time for me now. So I really apologize for being late but that’s what was going on.”
Our thoughts go out to Eileen Gu and her family during this time.
Eileen competed in three events at the Winter Olympics this year, and she won a medal in each one.
She picked up silver medals in both slopestyle and big air, before winning gold for the second Winter Olympics in a row in freeski halfpipe.
While at the Olympics this year, Eileen has also faced backlash for competing for China instead of the USA, where she was born and raised. Find out how she responded to criticism from Vice President JD Vance.